As Major League Baseball seems ready to drop the hammer on cheaters, one name is being discussed with more intensity than most. That name is none other than the New York Yankees’ own Alex Rodriguez. While the status of his quad may be in question, most fans and analysts have judged A-Rod already.

On one side, the critics point to two things: his massive contract and his repeated links to steroids. Focusing on strictly on-the-field matters first, Rodriguez’s 10-year, $275 million deal sets the expectation that he will put up numbers befitting the one of the best players in the game. Despite early successes and a strong performance during the Yankees’ only World Series win this decade, he hasn’t lived up to that standard, especially during the playoffs.

Additionally, the fact that he admitted to using steroids, yet is still linked to scandals rubs some the wrong way. While it would be one thing to admit a mistake and become a model citizen, Rodriguez’s name surfaced in a New York Times report about Canadian doctor Anthony Galea in 2010 and again in the Biogenesis scandal earlier this summer. As the old saying goes, "Fool me once shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.”

Those on the other side of the aisle say A-Rod is being unfairly singled out. While his massive contract surely makes him a target of more scrutiny, his numbers haven’t been outstandingly awful and the Yanks probably wouldn’t have won their most recent World Series without him.

Furthermore, he shouldn’t be made the figurehead for the post-Barry Bonds steroid era. While he did use performance-enhancing drugs, he admitted it which is more than can be said for most other players. He isn’t a bad guy who lies through his teeth like Ryan Braun; Rodriguez is just immature and has made some bad decisions.

What do you think of Alex Rodriguez? Is he cheater who deserves every bit of the punishment, which seems inevitable, or a great player who didn’t grow up and made a few mistakes? Cast a vote in our poll and sound off in the comments section below!